How GIS Has Changed Our World

A federal funded GIS study is determining the best way to find volunteer firefighters.

The study is designed to help departments reach that goal to have enough paid and volunteer firefighters. Of the 20 departments taking part, 10 participated in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Segmentation study, and the other 10 are in a control group engaging in a traditional recruitment campaign, according to a news release.

The Martinsville, VA, department was part of the GIS study. It was based on the premise that studying demographic data about current firefighters will help the department target its recruitment efforts, Deputy Fire Chief Kris Shrader said.

“They looked at all demographic data for current employees and volunteers to see what we were made of … that way they provide us with a plan of targeted areas to explore for volunteers,” Shrader said.